Priceline Hotel: Help 4*/3.5*/3* Miami (South Beach) 3/28-4/2

[seadude]

Hi I need help booking a hotel in south beach for march 28 to april 02, I dont want a boutique hotel but also I dont want to paid $300.00 per night. I have tried $100 and dont got even a 3* hotel, Im guessing that maybe is to early so most of the SoBe hotels dont give their inventory to Priceline trying to sale the rooms at the rack prices. I need to wait more time or I need to put more money on the pot. I saw the hotel list and im hooked because the hotel that I dream is Royal Palm and is on the priceline hotel list on the 3* category and cost about $300 per night but in other hands the Clinton hotel is on the list and has the same rate and for that date are advertised at 115.00 full refundable.

[Colfax]

Welcome to BetterBidding, seadude.

I dont want a boutique hotel

I don't know which hotels you consider boutiques but on PRICELINE you have to be willing to accept ANY hotel rated at the quality level you bid or higher. Are there any South Beach hotels you consider boutiques that are rated 4* or 3.5*? You could get upgraded to those hotels bidding 3*.

Your five night stay starts on a Saturday night. It's possible the $100 you've bid is high enough for your last four nights but not for Saturday night, which typically is more expensive. (I haven't checked rates for your dates.) If you're willing to split your bid you might win your last four nights at a lower rate than you've bid for all five.

If you're not ready to split yet (you've got lots of time) you could book the Clinton at $115 and keep trying for all five nights on Priceline. Since the Clinton, which PRICELINE rates 3*, is only $115 I don't think I'd bid higher than about $60 for a 3* this far in advance.

Have you checked HOTWIRE for South Beach options? If anything looks interesting there we'll try to identify the hotel if you'll post the icons.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links, as it helps the board.

[thereuare]

Rates look high for these dates.... it may be early, but this is also Spring Break, which will probably require a higher than usual bid.

What is the best price you're able to find at an acceptable property for this stay?

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

[seadude]

Well I didn't know about HOTWIRE until I got into this board, I just follow the link on the corner and it was really cool that you can see the details of the hotel like if is ocean front or not. But I guess that is too soon to get a deep discount. I already have the Clinton reservation and I can cancel it any time just loosing 20.00 bucks. Im going to keep trying for 3.5* and up and 100.00 and im going to follow your suggestion im going to bid sunday to thursday

[thereuare]

If you let us know your 'priorities' for this stay we may be able to suggest a bidding strategy for you to follow...

Are you looking for the least expensive 3.5* or better hotel for this stay OR are you willing to pay more for a higher rated hotel?

Also, note above, that you won't be able to eliminate a 'boutique-y' type hotel for this stay... when using PRICELINE you need to be willing to accept any hotel in the zone at the minimum star rating (or higher) your select.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

Keep us updated and/or let us know if we can be of further help.

[seadude]

I think that boutique hotels have very small number of units so they know how to fill them. I have notice that bigger hotels have more rooms so its easier or more probable to get it. What im dreaming is with Royal Palm but also The Savoy is a grate alternative. If I can get any of this hotels at HOTWIRE im going to paid for it up to 120+ fees but for PRICELINE the most that I can paid is 100 because of the risk factor once is purchased is purcharsed and you know what I mean. But I think that ANY SoBe hotel that has a nice pool will be good for us if is an ocean front will be perfect but not a must.

I have been very happy with my previous bets. I have won in Las Vegas Planet Hollywood for 75.00 for a weekend friday-sun and the price at Expedia was $220 for that dates. So I was very happy.

For my Mom I got in New York in times square a 4* hotel for 85 dollars and the price was like 450 per night, she told me that the Hotels were gorgeous she were so exited.

So I think that PRICELINE has a very good hotels and my feel is that you cant be wrong or get lower that what you bet. If is 3* you are going to get a very outstanding 3*

[thereuare]

This area has a LOT of Boutique and "quality small independents" so there is also a great chance of receiving a property which falls under one of these classifications than elsewhere... there aren't too many name brands properties in South Beach.

Regardless of size, Boutique hotels use PRICELINE and HOTWIRE just like the large hotels... to sell inventory they don't think they're likely to sell on their own at 'full' price. If they have rooms which they believe they're unlikely to sell on their own, they will offer rooms to the opaque providers, and Boutique hotels have been won in this area before.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

Keep us updated as to your progress or how we can be of further help along the way.

[seadude]

Today I recived an email from PRICELINE doing a follow up and telling me that I can bet again. I did it and I loose it. Then thinking that will be better try with HOTWIRE. I want to spend time on the beach and pool so will be better to look for a ocean front, pool and at least 3.5 starts on south beach.

I will let you know when i look for something interesting in HOTWIRE so you can help me with ID

[thereuare]

Just a reminder to anyone following along, if/when you receive emails from PRICELINE letting you know that you're eligible to bid again, PLEASE don't use the links in the email, return to BetterBidding and access PRICELINE thru our links on the board.

Let us know when you find something interesting on HOTWIRE and we'll try to help.